Todd Phillips in Talks to Direct Crime Drama THE GAMBLER

Though he’s currently gearing up to direct the comedy sequel The Hangover Part III in September, director Todd Phillips is planning on trying his hand at a straight drama in the near future. THR reports that Phillips is in talks to direct the crime drama The Gambler, a remake of the 1974 film of the same name starring James Caan. The Paramount project previously had Martin Scorsese attached to direct with Leonardo DiCaprio circling the starring role, but it now appears that Scorsese has left the remake. Hit the jump for more details.

The original film, based on a short story by Fyodor Dostoyevsky,centered on an English professor from New York whose gambling addiction causes a slew of twists and turns. Scorsese’s The Departed scribe William Monahan wrote the screenplay, and he previously told Steve that he planned on chasing the setting for the remake and going back to Dostoyevsky’s source material for his take.

Per THR, the plan now is for Phillips to shoot The Gambler directly after he finishes The Hangover Part III. He’s also attached to direct an adaptation of the drug trafficking novel Mule, which is being written by Mark and Jay Duplass. Watch a clip from the 1974 film The Gambler below.